President Nicolas Maduro says Venezuela is facing “the biggest threat” seen by the continent in the last 100 years, amid the US deployment of ships in the Caribbean, asserting he is ready to “declare a republic in arms” if attacked by American forces.
Maduro made the remarks at a meeting with international media in Caracas on Monday, calling the US move an “unjustifiable” and “absolutely criminal threat.”
He said eight US Navy ships carrying 1,200 missiles and one nuclear submarine were targeting Venezuela.
The US Navy has deployed a fleet of vessels and thousands of troops to the Caribbean, allegedly aimed at combating Latin American drug cartels.
The USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale, carrying more than 4,500 US service members including some 2,200 Marines, have arrived in the region.
In addition, US military aircraft, including P-8 spy planes, have been flying in international airspace to gather intelligence.
Maduro said that “in response to maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum readiness to defend Venezuela.”
He noted that a US military build-up in the Caribbean is aimed at overthrowing his government, stressing that Venezuela will not yield to “blackmail and threats”. His country, Maduro said, is peaceful but will fight to defend its territory if attacked.
More than eight million Venezuelans have enlisted as reservists, according to Maduro as Caracas has already announced increased patrols of its territorial waters.
The volume of US military deployment in the region, officially justified as an operation against drug cartels, has raised eyebrows, with critics questioning whether such a large-scale presence is proportionate to the stated mission.
Last week, Caracas petitioned the United Nations to intervene by demanding"the immediate cessation of the US military deployment in the Caribbean."
In August, the Trump administration escalated its pressure campaign, increasing the reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 million, claiming that he is “one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers,” an allegation roundly rejected by Caracas.
Maduro has responded by mobilizing 4.5 million members of the Bolivarian Militia and ordering a 30-day suspension of drone flights nationwide, in order to thwart US threats of war against his country.
Venezuela and the US severed formal diplomatic relations in 2019 after the latter backed opposition leader Juan Guaido in the Latin American country’s presidential election.
Sanctions have also been imposed on Venezuela to pressure Maduro to step down in favor of the opposition leader, whom the US and its Western allies have recognized as the country’s legitimate president.
Maduro, however, secured a third term in office after Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declared him the winner of last year’s presidential election.
